7 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Valet Service
A great valet service can add ease and class to an event, and is a great value add for many businesses. But how do you decide which valet service provider to hire? Here, we provide some important questions to ask when you look into hiring a valet service.
How long have they been providing this service?
Obviously, the longer the valet service provider has been operating, the more of a track record they will have. You should be able to find a number of reviews across Google and Yelp, and will also be able to see how the business rates on the Better Business Bureau.
If a provider is brand new, you likely don’t want to be the first business they test their services out on. Also, sometimes businesses with bad reviews will rebrand under a new name to try to revamp their service, so be cautious of newer businesses without reviews.
What insurance do they offer?
Any reputable valet parking company will readily provide you with their insurance information. This insurance should cover damage both to the vehicles they park and to other vehicles and property.
According to answerfinancial.com, “The National Parking Association requires its members to carry at least $1 million of legal liability coverage and $5 million of general liability coverage. Liability coverage will cover injury to people or damage to property the valet doesn’t own.”
If a car gets damaged while being driven by the valet, then the company may be at fault, and their insurance will be used. Of course, normal at-fault rules apply regardless of whether you or a valet are driving the car. This means that if another person hits your car, that party is most likely liable (whether it is while it is being driven or parked). In the case of a hit and run, you may need to use your own collision insurance.
What checks do they do on their drivers?
Depending on the valet service provider you select, you will encounter different hiring standards. A variety of checks may be performed by the company, including:
- Universal background check
- Driving record check
- Criminal background check
- Reference check
- Credit check
The more thorough these checks, the more secure you can feel about hiring the valet service. A great company will check more than just their prospective employees’ driving records.
How do they train their valet drivers?
Technically, anyone with a license can valet park a car, but a great valet provider will provide extensive training to its employees.
A great valet knows not only how to park cars, but is also a great provider of customer service. A valet driver should undergo extensive training before being allowed to get behind the driver’s seat. They need to be trained on:
- How to park all types and sizes of vehicles
- How to manage the parking spaces and lots utilized
- How to use technology involved in management of valet station
- How to provide excellent customer service, including having a deep knowledge of the area and the event or business in question so they can answer questions as needed
- How to assimilate into the culture of whatever business or event they are providing valet service for
What technology are they leveraging?
As other industries have grown better with the use of technology, so has valet parking. By utilizing state-of-the-art technology, valet service companies can provide easy app-based vehicle tracking and text-in vehicle retrieval, making the process more interactive and easy for customers. The use of technology also allows for more transparent reporting and attendance tracking.
What do the reviews say about the company?
Thanks to reviews on sites such as Yelp and Google, you can find out a whole lot about almost any company you want to hire to provide valet service. Do your research to make sure the company is widely used and respected.
What do they charge for their services?
Depending on whether you’re looking for a long-term valet service provider for your business or a one-time provider for an event, this answer may come in different forms. Generally speaking, you will be given a rate per driver per hour. A larger company may be able to provide a smaller number of valet drivers and have on-call staff available, should your needs exceed your initial expectations.
The most important thing here is transparency. Your valet provider should be open and thorough with their explanation of what they charge and exactly what will be provided within their valet service contract.
There are a lot of questions to ask yourself when you have decided to hire valet parking service providers for your business or event. For a company that checks off all of these boxes and more, contact FC Parking. We have over 20 years of experiences in valet services, and would love to discuss how valet can benefit you.